CALGARY – The No. 9 Brandon Bobcats defeated the University of Calgary Dinos 3-0 (27-29, 26-28, 18-25) in a very important game to help determine the final spots in the Canada West men's volleyball playoff race. 

With the loss, the Dinos fall to 10-11 while Brandon improves to the same record. A number of matches will need to be completed tomorrow night to have a clear picture of who qualifies for playoffs and who does not. Calgary is still in contention. 

Greg Mann recorded a team-high 16 kills on the night as the only player to reach double digits. He also had nine kills. Connor Frehlich added nine kills for the Dinos and Andrew Visser scored another eight. Setter Jackson Maris recorded 33 assists. 

For the Bobcats, Sebastien Steigmeier recorded a game-high 21 kills on the night, along with ten digs. Dan Boutwell and Sam Truvai followed that up with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Setter David Stasica recorded a game-high 40 assists in the match. 

Brandon took an early lead in the first set going up 12-9, but the Dinos were quick to slow their momentum, catching up at 14 all. Despite the visitors taking the lead at the technical, Calgary found a way to tie it up again, this time at 17 with a kill from Frehlich. 

From there the Dinos went up by two, forcing the Bobcats to call their first timeout. It didn't help as Calgary held onto that lead to 21-18, forcing Brandon to call another timeout due to their struggling defence.  It was at 23 when the Bobcats tied the game up with a kill in the middle. From there, the Dinos had five set-points to finish the match, up 25-24, 26-25 and 27-26, but it was Brandon who came up with three big points in a row to win an exciting first set 29-27. 

In the second, a slow start from the Dinos created a hole for them to have to crawl out of. Brandon led 16-12 at the technical. From there, both teams battled it out, with fans and benches getting involved in the action and excitement of the game. Flirting with the lead, Calgary found a way to tie the game up at 20 thanks to another important kill form Frehlich. 

At 22-21, the Dinos had their first lead of the set, but the battle of the middles from both sides of the court continued. With perfect passes coming from either team, the middles were looked upon to generate offence nearing the end of the set. This one needed extra points again, and it was the No. 9 Bobcats coming out on top, taking it 28-26. 

In a do-or-die third set, both teams were so close in talent that the score was tied a number of times all the way up until 12 all. It was the Bobcats that were the first team to get the first significant lead at the technical, going up 16-13. 

From there, the Dinos let the lead slip away and it was too little, too late for them when they decided to try and fight back. Brandon went on to defeat the Dinos in straight sets with a 25-18 win. 

In a game that will determine the fate of both team's post season hopes, the Dinos and the Bobcats will rematch at Jack Simpson Gym. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. The Dinos will also be celebrating six seniors at Enterprise Senior Night tomorrow.